NCT07827703

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a short, self-guided program for cutting down smartphone screen time can reduce symptoms of depression in young adults. It includes students in Oslo, Norway, who have applied for help at the student mental health service (SiO Mental Health). The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does a 2-week screen time reduction program reduce symptoms of depression?
  • Does it reduce symptoms of anxiety?
  • Can a simple, widely available phone app reduce screen time, and does the reduction last? Researchers will compare students who start the program right away with students who continue their usual care for 2 weeks and receive the same program afterwards. Participants are placed in one of the two groups by chance, like flipping a coin. Participants will:
  • Answer questionnaires about depression and anxiety symptoms at the start and again after 2 weeks
  • Upload screenshots of the Screen Time summary on their iPhone at the start, after 2 weeks, and after 12 weeks
  • Install an app that blocks the apps they find most distracting and keep it active for 2 weeks, if they are placed in the program group
  • Take part entirely online, with no clinic visits and no contact with the study team

Trial Health

63
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
200

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
10mo left

Started Sep 2026

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress4%
Sep 2026Aug 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 14, 2026

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 18, 2026

Completed
3 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 21, 2026

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 1, 2027

Expected
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2027

Last Updated

September 23, 2026

Status Verified

September 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

7 months

First QC Date

September 14, 2026

Last Update Submit

September 18, 2026

Conditions

Anxiety SymptomsScreen TimeDepressive Symptoms

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Symptoms of depression (PHQ-9)

    Patient Health Questionnaire-9, range 0 to 27, higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.

    From enrollment to the end of intervention at 2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7)

    From enrollment to the end of intervention at 2 weeks

  • Total smartphone screen time

    2 weeks and 12 weeks after randomization

  • Smartphone screen time by app category

    2 weeks and 12 weeks after randomization

  • Number of daily smartphone pickups

    2 weeks and 12 weeks after randomization

Other Outcomes (3)

  • Self-reported changes in daily functioning and well-being

    2 weeks

  • Adherence to the screen time restriction tool

    2 weeks

  • Perceived usefulness and burden of the tool

    2 weeks and 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Screen time reduction

EXPERIMENTAL
Behavioral: App-based smartphone screen time restriction program

Care as usual

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

App-based smartphone screen time restriction programBEHAVIORAL

Two-week self-guided use of an iOS screen time restriction app. Participants block their most distracting apps, with notifications disabled. Unlocking requires a 30-second delay, allows 10 minutes of access, then a 5-minute cooldown.

Screen time reduction

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Has applied for care at SiO Mental Health, the student mental health service in Oslo, and has received the service's response to the application
  • Owns an iPhone (the screen time restriction tool requires iOS)
  • Able to understand written Norwegian
  • Provides informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • \- None

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Studentsamskipnaden i Oslo

Oslo, Norway

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety DisordersDepression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental DisordersBehavioral SymptomsBehavior

Study Officials

  • Thomas Mildestvedt, Professor

    University of Bergen

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Thomas Mildestvedt, Professor

CONTACT

+47 55586163thomas.mildestvedt@uib.no

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 14, 2026

First Posted

September 18, 2026

Study Start

September 21, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2027

Last Updated

September 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Anonymized individual participant data underlying the published results.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
Time Frame
After publication of the primary results.
Access Criteria
Upon request to the principal investigator, under a data sharing agreement.

Locations

NO(1)